Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners in its prisons has once again come under scrutiny after 18-year-old Mohammed Nazal’s testimony and verified medical records shed light on the brutal conditions endured by detainees. Nazal, hailing from the town of Qabatiya in the occupied West Bank, was released as part of a truce agreement with Hamas and wasted no time in sharing his harrowing experiences with the media. Israeli officials quickly dismissed his claims, but a fact-checking agency has now confirmed the authenticity of his testimonies and medical records, further exposing the mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
Nazal’s arrest in August without any charges placed him among the more than 100 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, many of whom were arbitrarily detained. Upon his release, Nazal revealed the intensified violence inflicted by prison guards after the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7. He recounted being severely beaten with a stick for eight minutes, resulting in fractures and broken fingers on both hands. Disturbing images of Nazal with bandaged hands went viral, corroborating his account of the ordeal.
However, Israeli officials wasted no time in attempting to discredit Nazal’s claims. Ofir Gendelman, a media official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, released a video showing Nazal without bandages on his hands when boarding a Red Cross bus after his release. Israeli authorities used this as evidence to suggest that Nazal was lying about his mistreatment. This incident, however, is just one example of Israel’s ongoing propaganda tactics and unfounded claims that have been publicly exposed during the war.
Nazal’s case is not an isolated incident, as numerous Palestinians who were released alongside him have also come forward with similar accounts of torture, beatings, and humiliation. The mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons has been extensively documented for decades, dating back to the occupation of Palestinian territories in 1967 and even earlier during British control.
In an effort to substantiate Nazal’s claims, Misbar, an Arab fact-checking platform, analyzed his medical records and X-rays. The records confirmed fractures on the metacarpal bones of his hands, while photos depicted significant bruising on his back. Media outlets, including the BBC, also verified and examined Nazal’s medical records, adding credibility to his account.
Nazal’s case highlights the practice of “administrative detention” supported by Israeli law, which allows Palestinians to be imprisoned for six months without charge or trial. This period can be repeatedly extended indefinitely, leading to a blatant violation of human rights. Furthermore, rights groups have reported that the Israel Prison Service has imposed additional measures against Palestinian prisoners, including restricted access to essential resources like water, food, and medical care. Family and lawyer visits have been significantly limited or completely halted, and prisoners have been forced to sleep on mattresses on prison floors to accommodate overcrowding.
The mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners is not limited to adults, as child inmates have also been subjected to the same dire conditions and face Israeli military courts. The international community continues to raise concerns about Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners, calling for accountability and an end to these inhumane practices.
Nazal’s case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights violations faced by Palestinians in Israeli prisons. The international community must address this issue and work towards a just and humane resolution for all parties involved.
